Five Renowned Artists to Transform Midtown Greenway into Nation’s Best Cultural Bikeway

Article by Becky Fillinger, photos provided

Melodee Strong is one of the 5 artists who will create murals along the Midtown Greenway.

A Discussion with Soren Jensen, Executive Director, Midtown Greenway Coalition

One of our favorite urban bike trails - The Midtown Greenway - is about to get even more vibrant with the additional of five cultural murals. The project will celebrate community, creativity, cultural diversity, and the power of public art to inspire and connect. We wanted to know more about this project and sat down with Soren Jensen, Executive Director of the Midtown Greenway Coalition to discuss the artists, selection process, funding and the many ways you can be involved. 

Soren JensenQ:  Please tell us more about the project to add murals to the Midtown Greenway.  

A:  We’ve received funding from the Minnesota Humanities Center to install five new murals in the Greenway this spring. Combined with our existing murals, we’ll have over a dozen murals along the Greenway, creating what we believe will arguably be the nation’s best Cultural Bikeway, celebrating the diverse cultures that live along the trail and creating an even more welcoming trail.

The murals will be completed by June 2025, thanks to the dedicated work of these remarkable artists:

Cadex Herrera Cadex is an internationally acclaimed artist known for his vibrant murals and social justice-themed artwork. Originally from Belize, Herrera gained worldwide recognition as one of the artists behind the iconic George Floyd mural in Minneapolis. His work often explores themes of identity, resilience, and community, making him a perfect fit for this project.

Geno Okok Geno is a Nigerian-born artist whose dynamic portraits and vibrant use of color capture the essence of his subjects. Okok’s work reflects his passion for storytelling and his commitment to uplifting underrepresented voices. His murals can be found across the Twin Cities, each one a testament to his artistic vision and cultural heritage.

Constanza Carballo Constanza is a multidisciplinary artist originally from Argentina, now based in Minneapolis. Her work often incorporates elements of nature and abstract design, blending organic forms with bold, geometric patterns. Carballo’s murals are celebrated for their ability to transform public spaces into immersive artistic experiences.

Melodee Strong Melodee is a Minneapolis-based artist and educator with a passion for empowering communities through art. Her murals often highlight themes of diversity, inclusion, and social justice. Strong’s bold, illustrative style brings a unique energy to her work, making her a standout in the Twin Cities art scene.

Natalie Shugailo Natalie is a greater Chicago-based artist specializing in intricate, nature-inspired designs that draw from her Ukrainian heritage. Her work often features detailed patterns and motifs that celebrate cultural traditions while embracing modern aesthetics. Shugailo’s murals are known for their meticulous craftsmanship and timeless beauty.

Q:  Will we be able to watch the muralists in action?

A:  Yes, the public will be invited to watch the murals being installed in the Greenway between May 24 and June 1. Sign up for our e-newsletter by emailing soren@midtowngreenway.org or watch for posts on Facebook, X, and Instagram. We also plan to have an unveiling celebration to recognize the completion of all the murals – it will happen in June, date and time to be determined.

Q:  Please tell us about the selection process for the five artists.

A:  Happy to report that we received over 80 applications! Most of them were from local artists, but we received several from other states. Of the artists we selected, four are local and one is from the Chicago area.

To review all of the applications, we convened a diverse panel of community volunteers, including several Midtown Greenway Coalition board members and local artists. They reviewed and scored each application, then met in person to keep narrowing the list down to five artists. It was very hard! The quality of the artists and applications were outstanding. The panel narrowed the list down to 8 artists, then online interviews were held to select the final five artists.

The new murals will join current murals such this one, created in partnership with MCAD, Little Earth of United Tribes, and artist Melodee Strong. Photo provided by the Midtown Greenway Coalition.

Q:  How did the partnership with the Minnesota Humanities Center come about?

A:  We received a grant. The Minnesota Humanities Center has grants made possible by the Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund that was created with the vote of the people of Minnesota on November 4, 2008.  

Q:  Shifting gears a bit, what is your long-term vision for the Midtown Greenway, and how do you see it evolving over the next 5–10 years?

A:  Our mission is to protect and enhance the Midtown Greenway and keep it the nation's best urban bike trail. We will continue to work to keep the trail safe, clean, green, and full of public art.

In addition to our mural project that will create the nation's best cultural bikeway, we are also working to create the nation's best urban pollinator pathway. This summer we will be installing 15 new pollinator gardens for rusty-patched bumblebees and monarch butterflies, creating a 5-mile-long pollinator pathway.

We also have a new initiative called the East Phillips BikeMore Project, which will give out over 100 free bikes to youth in East Phillips and provide programming to teach them how to bike safely.

Our major arts event, the Greenway Glow Arts Festival, will be held on September 6th. The Glow is one of the longest running free arts festivals in Minneapolis. It features dozens of interactive displays and performances by local artists.

One of our most important efforts is to extend the Greenway over the river and through Saint Paul. We are making slow but steady progress! The Met Council is currently studying the bridge over the river, to determine how much it would cost to repair the bridge and extend the trail into Saint Paul. Once the report is finished this fall, we expect to be able to use it to encourage government leaders to get to work to extend the Greenway!

Q:  What are the primary sources of funding for the Greenway, and how do you address financial challenges?

A:  We are a nonprofit organization and receive no annual operating funds from the government. We raise all of our funds from individuals and organizations that love the Greenway and want to keep it the best urban bike trail in the nation.

Q:  OK, I hear you. How can the public support the Greenway’s initiatives - through advocacy, donations, or volunteering? How do we follow your news?

A:  Thank you! Tax-deductible donations can be made via GiveMN.org or through our website at www.midtowngreenway.org. We also welcome volunteers! The best way to find out about volunteer opportunities and how to support our work is to sign up for our e-newsletter by emailing Soren@midtowngreenway.org. We also post to our social media pages on Facebook, X, and Instagram.

Elsie’s - the Social Epicenter of NE Minneapolis

Article by Becky Fillinger, photos provided

A Discussion with Dawn Swart, General Manager

We love Elsie’s restaurant and bowling alley in NE Minneapolis! We talked to General Manager Dawn Swart about the menu, neighborhood collaborations and bowling. But before we switch to Dawn for her responses, here's what Ward 3 Council Member Michael Rainville had to say about one of his favorite establishments:  “Elsie’s is named after, who else…Elsie. A proud Scottish woman who was widowed at an early age and ran the business by herself and her son. She was very feisty and was known to chase out the teenagers who bought cigarettes from the machine in the bowling alley. One warning and then Elsie hit you with her broom. For a small woman, she packed a punch. Today Mike and Tim Tuttle run Elsie’s, which is the social epicenter of NE Minneapolis. Not only is the roast beef sandwich a delight, Elsie’s features a hearty breakfast menu and a full luncheon menu. Elsie’s has two outdoor patios and there is not a better place to watch the sun set in the West than on the Marshall Street patio. When you stop in for breakfast or lunch, Patty and Chuck, the finest servers in North America, will take good care of you.”

Q:  What’s the history of Elsie’s, and what makes it unique to Northeast Minneapolis? 

A:  Elsie’s was established in 1956. The business was owned and operated by Elsie Nelson. In later years her son Bill Nelson took over the business. Tim and Mike Tuttle are the current owners and 4th generation bowling proprietors. Their passion and commitment to our customers, community, employees and the business have been the driving force behind Elsie’s success.

Dawn Swart with a happy crowd at Elsie's

I think when you walk through the doors there is a sense of nostalgia that greets you with a little modern flair. Elsie’s is a place where all generations may gather and enjoy time together. Perhaps you may have celebrated your child’s birthday here, bowled on a league, attended a wedding in our private banquet space or holiday party, maybe it was happy hour in the bar with friends or a reunion with old schoolmates in our restaurant. With so many unique places NE has to offer we are honored to be included among them. And we’ll gladly take the moniker offered by Michael Rainville as the "social epicenter of NE Minneapolis."

Q:  I agree with you about all generations being welcome at Elsie’s. I bowled there last month and every age group was on the lanes – and everyone was having fun. An article from September 2024 noted that Elsie’s may be an unsuspecting bowling alley, but that it serves some of the best food in the state - congratulations! Talk to us about the menu philosophy at Elsie’s. 

A:  Thank you! The article was a wonderful surprise. We offer a variety of American comfort food. Hearty portions with great flavor. Variety is the spice of life. Our menu is large covering breakfast, lunch and dinner options. Kung Pao Chicken, Cadillac Mac & Cheese, Prime rib, Walleye Sandwich, Aztec Salad, Irish Whiskey Burger or the Elsie Supreme Omelet are among some of our customers favorite selections.

Above, breakfast items, and below, some lunch options. Yum!

Q:  Are there happy hour deals on food or beverages? 

A:  Yes, we have happy hour beverages during the week, 3-6pm, on tap beer, rail drinks and domestic bottled beer.

Q:  What are your bowling rates – per hour or per game?

A:  Elsie’s offers both per game OR per hour rates during weekday open bowl. On the weekends we are strictly hourly to ensure all who enter our establishment have the opportunity to grab a lane and enjoy. Pricing varies. It is best to call ahead for current rates.

Q:  Elsie’s offers glow bowling – what is it and how can we get in on this?

A:  Cosmic bowling is when we turn on the disco balls, party lights, black lights and crank up the music. We have state-of-the-art sound and light systems. You may request cosmic bowl at any time with the exception of league play hours.

Q:  Please tell us more about league play and tournaments.

A:  We host several tournament fundraisers in the spring and early summer as we partner with the NE Lions Club, Midway YMCA and other local charities focused on our neighbors and our community. Leagues play begins just after Labor Day and wraps up in late April. Open bowl is year-round and open to all age groups!

Q:  Sounds like you’re quite involved with the community.

A:  Elsie’s partners with area schools, Kids Bowl Free summer program and local clubs throughout the year. Community has been our focus from the beginning. This is the foundation that has supported us since 1956!

Q:  How may we stay up to date with all your offerings? 

A:  We’re on all the social channels. Check our website, and even better, come down and visit with us at 729 Marshall Street NE.

Patio season is almost here!

Meet Addie Gorlin-Han, a Twin Cities Theatrical Rising Star

Article by Becky Filliner, photo provided

In August 2024, American Theatre magazine featured Addie Gorlin-Han in their "6 Theatre Workers You Should Know" series, highlighting her as a notable figure in the theater community. Tracy Brigden, Senior Artistic Producer at the Guthrie, praised Gorlin-Han's leadership, noting her advocacy for local artists, diverse voices, and inclusive practices and that Addie is on track to “be a brilliant artistic director.” That predicted future appears to be now. We talked to Addie about current projects, including directing Fun Home at Theater Latté Da and what’s next in her flourishing career. 

Addie Gorlin-HanQ:  You’ve certainly been busy in the Twin Cities recently – directing The Root Beer Lady at the History Theater in February and slated to direct Fun Home at Theater Latté Da, starting in April. With all of the exciting projects you've taken on recently, does it feel like you've stepped into a new chapter in your career?

A:  I'm glad it seems that way! I've actually stepped into a new chapter of my life now that I have two kids, Owen (3.5) and Benny (1). I have my job at the Guthrie as Associate Producer and I'm dedicated to being present there so between that and kids, I actually spend a lot of emotional energy being selective about what I'm going to pursue, especially when rehearsals for projects happen during my kiddos' bedtime. It's a hard balance and I constantly feel like I should be doing more!

Q:  Fun Home is an intimate and deeply personal story - what is your vision for bringing it to life on the Theater Latté Da stage? How do you approach balancing the show’s humor with its heavier emotional moments? What do you hope audiences take away from this production of Fun Home?

A:  Yes, it's a deeply personal and beautifully intimate story for Alison Bechdal and many members of the audience alike. 

I find it productive to hinge the storytelling/world building on a single line from the play - one that I feel summarizes the action of the story. For this piece Alison and Bruce's lyrics: "I want to know what's true, dig deep into who, and what, and why, and when, until now gives way to then" immediately stuck out as the reason for the play and for the movement of the piece. At the very top of the show, Alison sits down with a notebook and opens a box from her father's past; she pulls out random relics (antiques, linens, etc.) which serve as catalysts connecting her to memories of her past that track across her relationship with her closeted dad, to get to the bottom of why he died, and to wrestle with memories of her own coming of age - as a young queer person and as an artist. 

Because of this, I loved the idea of her returning to a metaphorical warehouse, a big storage room of memories, where all her father's antiques are stored and which she hasn't encountered in the last 20 years until this very moment when she actively decides to dust off and uncover his "boxes of junk" in order to deal with this material head-on. As such, you'll see that scenically we've created a warehouse of memories - the side walls are shelves filled with objects, antiques, furniture that, when pulled from the back walls and onto the stage locate us in a specific memory or time in Alison's life.

Fun Home runs April 2 - May 4 at Theater Latté Da

What also strikes me about the play and the graphic novel, is that Alison could have worked through all of these memories with contempt, anger at her father, resentment and bitterness towards her family - and to be clear, she doesn't shy away from complicated, messy truths of it all. But she does so with an overwhelming sense of love. I appreciate that on a personal level because I grew up in the 2000s with a trans sibling and despite the challenges, I've experienced the very real and tender ways a family can be brought together through the journey. I think that's the key to balancing the humor with heavier moments - that it's all rooted in truth.

My sibling is also working as a consultant on this show - they're a caricature artist and work at Birchbark Books. They're coordinating an effort to bring in queer graphic artists from their book and caricature community to tech to draw moments from rehearsal; those drawings will then be on display and used to promote the show. I'm really excited about the partnerships they're working on – stay tuned for more details from Theater Latté Da. 

Q:  What is the casting process like for this production, especially with the three actors playing Alison at different ages?

A:  We did a big casting call based on Latté Da’s regional auditions and then had an additional casting session for the young folks. I wasn't actually concerned about finding three people who looked like one another; at the beginning of the process, I was ready to adjust a "concept" around whoever walked in and brought the most convincing portrayal of Alisons and we'd work from there, but it just so turns out that we have three talented actors who do have some striking resemblance.

Q:  Do you anticipate specific challenges in directing the younger actors, particularly Small Alison?

A:  Haha yes, people seem to come to me when there are children in shows (e.g. A Christmas Carol at the Guthrie) and I'm sure that has something to do with the fact that I have a K-12 teaching credential and sort of a camp counselor personality. So, it's actually one of my greatest joys. I try to treat them just like the adults, but I do generally have blocking a bit more spelled out. 

Q:  How early in a production do you start to work with the music director and the set and lighting directors?  I imagine Fun Home will have moments that lean heavily on music and the set to convey emotions and different time periods.

A:  The musical director, Jason Hansen, is the dad of one of my kid's friends, a husband of my dear work friend and colleague, and my musical directing partner on A Christmas Carol so I'm not sure when work officially began but we've been talking about it for quite a while. I guess since I was asked to do the show. Same thing with the choreographer - we've been chatting for a while and she's been a big part of helping with set design since how things move is so interconnected with the space. This is my first show with set designer is Eli Sherlock, and he has become a wonderful colleague who knows the Latté Da space well so I've leaned on him for his knowledge. The lighting designer is also a collaborator from the Guthrie, as is our costume designer, and sound designer a collaborator from Root Beer lady.

And yes, the set design as I spoke to earlier is maximalist in the surrounding, but minimalist in the utilization of the furniture. 

Q:  Are there other works you’d love to direct for us here in the Twin Cities?

A:  Yes, so many! I'm working on a new musical with two friends about the Princess Kay of the Milky Way competition at the state fair - I'd love to see that come to fruition. I'd love to tackle a classic. A new play featuring a lot of women. I have a list of dream shows on my website, which is an approach I credit to Lavina Jadhwani (director and adaptor of Christmas Carol at the Guthrie) but it's useful and I try to keep it up to date as I read plays throughout the year.

Q:  What’s next for you after Fun Home? How may we follow your news? 

A:  Root Beer Lady will be touring Minnesota this summer. I believe Christmas Carol next year...I'll be line producing the mainstage shows at the Guthrie. So, directing wise, nothing new new on the horizon but TBD! I always try not to get anxious this time of year. :) 

Ten Things to Know About Unveil, the University of Minnesota College of Design's Apparel Design Capstone Showcase

A discussion with Senior Apparel Design Student, Devin Schwartz

Devin SchwartzSince 1968, apparel design students at the University of Minnesota College of Design have been presenting their original designs in an annual exhibition that marks the completion of their academic journey. This years capstone project exhibition is a fashion show, Unveil, and reception to be held March 22 at The Whim in NE Minneapolis. Check it out and get tickets here.

We talked to Devin Schwartz about the event, the projects and collaboration between students and professors and industry members. I asked Devin to tell us about the event and the program in an easy to digest 10-item list. Here's what he shared:

Designer: Chloé Simpson, Model: Emma Flug, photo credit Joe Dammel1.  The name of the show is Unveil. We as a senior class chose this name as we felt it really encapsulated our experience through our time in the program. We started college at the end of the pandemic and have grown into full blown designers now. Our aesthetics, interests and ideas span a wide range of concepts but together we wanted to Unveil the capable designers we’ve become and to showcase our future goals we are on a path to achieve. 

2.  This is an annual University of Minnesota tradition that started in 1968 and has evolved each year, allowing graduating students to present their original designs and research marking the completion of their academic journeys.

3.  It’s a celebration! We celebrate all of the hard work we have put into our projects leading up to the show, and it brings together our fellow students, instructors, industry professionals and members of the public. 

4.  On March 22, there will be two shows, one at 4pm and the other at 7pm, giving multiple opportunities to see all of the students’ work. Additionally, there will be an hour-long exhibition reception after each show for a chance to talk with all of the designers about their projects and future goals. 

Designer: Tierra Ruggeberg, Model: Wealth Ndego, photo credit Joe Dammel5.  Each project was started over a year ago in January of 2024, spanning many interests including Bridal, Fit issues in PPE, ready to wear, lingerie and standardized sizing, upcycled and mendable collections, and more personal identity-based collections. Each capstone is a direct reflection of each designer's personal and professional interests. 

6.  Each student was paired with an industry professional for mentorship and guidance throughout the entire process of creating our capstones.

7.  The entire show has been planned and organized by the senior students with guidance and assistance by our teacher Luci Kandler, including advertising, social media, sponsorship and more. 

8.  While first starting the research for our collections last year we also were working on functional clothing design projects in collaboration with NASA, Kimberly Clark, and the University of Minnesota Wearable Technology Lab. 

9.  The show as a whole isn’t possible without the help of all apparel design students, not just the seniors. To ensure the show runs smoothly, student volunteers will help with everything from setup and take down, ticket check in and seating. 

10.  Although we each created our own capstone project, the entire process was very collaborative. Without the support and feedback of each other during the development of our projects, they would be nowhere near the level we achieved. We are also a very close-knit class so although stressful at times we were truly able to support each other.

Small Business Spotlight: A Discussion with Aubry Walch, co-owner of The Herbivorous Butcher

Article by Becky Fillinger, photos provided

Aubry Walch

In 2016, siblings Aubry and Kale Walch opened the country’s first vegan butcher shop, The Herbivorous Butcher, in NE Minneapolis. It was audacious, but the two had build a reputation at local farmers markets and knew the demand for their tasty plant-based products. We talked to Aubry about the history of the business, their best sellers, and how to follow their news. Stop by at 507 1st Avenue NE during business hours and try some of their delicious creations!

Above and below, the welcoming shop at 507 1st Avenue NE.

Q:  What’s the history of The Herbivorous Butcher? What inspired you to become a vegan butcher and to begin your business?

A:  We started at the Minneapolis Farmers Market with a six-foot table, a small counter top fridge, and a dream. We were cooking out of Kindred Kitchen, which is a community kitchen in north Minneapolis. Both of us had day jobs, zero experience, and no money - but we cooked on Thursday and Friday nights after work, and with the help of our mom and my husband we made it work. We sold food at the farmers market both Saturday and Sunday mornings. We sold out our first day at the market and knew we were onto something, so we made a little more every week and still kept selling out.

We were inspired by climate change and the increasing need for cleaner proteins - cleaner for both our bodies and the environment. And we were both vegan and feeling very uninspired by the options that were on the market back then. We knew we could do better and create proteins that both vegans and their non-vegan friends and family members would love. It’s important for everyone to have foods that they can share with the ones they love, even if they’re vegan. 

Q:  How do you approach replicating the flavors and textures of traditional meats?

A:  When we started, Kale had gone vegan only a few years before so it was still fresh in his memory. Plus, we had our omnivorous friends and family who willingly tried all our successful and not so successful trial recipes. We had a lot of input!

Huli Huli Ribs

Large Charcuterie Board

Pepperoni

Smoky house ribs

Q:  What’s the most popular item on your menu? 

A:  We have several heavy-hitters but I think it’s still between the Korean ribs and our Pastrami - both very classic recipes which I think people like. However, it seems like our fried chicken is coming in pretty strong as a popular product, too, and for obvious reasons, everyone LOVES fried chicken!

Q:  What are the primary ingredients in your products?

A:  For our meats we typically use a high-protein wheat flour which is high in protein but low in carbohydrates, a nice clean protein. And then from there we use different juices, nutritional yeast for the good B vitamins, spices, etc. We also use a lot of jackfruit, which is a fantastic source of fiber and is gluten free. As far as our cheeses, they are soy and coconut-based for the most part, and we also have a few that are almond-based. And of course, everything we make is 100% cholesterol free. 

Q:  Do you offer cooking tips or recipes for your products?

A:  We do! Our website has a number of recipes, plus Kale and I put out The Herbivorous Butcher Cookbook a couple years ago. In the cookbook you’ll find not only recipes that you can use our products in, but also recipes for our favorite vegan meats and cheeses so you can make them at home if you wish.

Q:  How do you see vegan butchery evolving in the future?

A:  That’s a tough question to answer. A vegan butcher shop is very much a labor of love. This stuff can be mass produced just like anything else: Impossible Foods, Beyond, Daring, Gardein - they’ve all done a version of it, but with huge machines. 

I think and hope that vegan butcher shops, although few and far between, will continue forward.

The beauty of small batch vegan meats and cheeses is that we have room to be as inventive and experimental as we want because we don’t have limitations. And each and every item is handmade with love and artistry. The food tastes better because we’re using real ingredients and there’s an actual human making sure that what our customers are getting is the best product we can possibly make. I’m so proud to work with such talented vegan butchers in our kitchen.

Q:  How may we follow your news?

A: You can find us on Instagram, Facebook and our website.

Aubry's brother Kale with their pot roast product

The Herbivorous Butchers, Aubry and Kale Walch :)

A Discussion with Myron Medcalf, Founder of Hennepin County Library's Mary Ann Key Book Club

Article by Becky Fillinger, photos by Hennepin County Communications

The Mary Ann Key Book Club is a collaboration with Myron Medcalf, the Hennepin County Library and the Star Tribune. It is gloriously woke, facilitating intercultural conversations around understanding and addressing past and current injustices that impact Black, Indigenous, and BIPOC community members. The club has just over 4,100 members – and is the largest in the Hennepin County Library system. We talked to Medcalf about the origins of the club, memorable moments and what’s next. As a college basketball reporter and nationally syndicated radio host with ESPN, he also gives us some Final Four predictions.

Q:  What inspired you to establish the Mary Ann Key Book Club and how did your great great great grandmother's legacy influence its creation?

A:  I had an awareness of my family history at an early age. My Aunt Sarah was a historian, so I grew up with the sort of family knowledge before it became a trendy thing to pursue, like with Ancestry.com. Aunt Sarah actually had an African American museum in her basement. Things that were normal for me as a kid back in the 80s weren’t as normal for others. Mary Ann Key, as our family’s matriarch, was a part of that knowledge for me very early on – we went down to Alabama and visited the plantation where she had been enslaved, met some of the descendants of the family that owned her – I always felt a connection with that part of my background. She was a slave in the 1850s, purchased for $1000 at the age of 14. There are many Mary Ann Key’s out there - people who maybe were not offered the recognition and respect that they deserved. A lot of those people are women. Many people have ancestors just like her in their own families. Mary Ann Key is a prime example – slavery never stole the freedom of her heart, mind and soul and she was the inspiration for the book club.

Q:  What's the primary goal of the book club, and are you able to measure its impact on the community?

A:  I guess I'll start with the second question. I don't know how to measure the impact of anything I've ever done on the community. I don't know if I've made a difference in anything honestly in my entire life, so I think that's for other people to decide.

My goal is that the key to any sort of progress or change is relationship and conversation. You can't formulate new opinions unless you have new ideas - unless you have decided to put yourself in a position where you're going to consider other perspectives. The book club introduces ideas on African American history or Indigenous history and we've presented a lot of different books just to say, “Hey, the world as it is, has been described by a predominantly set of white male authors.” Of course, that's not the world everybody experiences. In order to change perspectives, you have to be within the conversation, so that's the goal in terms of impact. I just want to be a part of the conversation and bring other people into the conversation too.

Q:  How do you choose the books and what criteria do you use to guide your selections?

A:  This is a partnership with the Hennepin County Library, so they play a significant role, as well as the Star Tribune. I work closely with a group at the Library – we have a panel of leaders who assist with selection. We read many different books that we’re considering and then we have a discussion. We have different categories – the discussion starts with selecting the category that makes sense at this time and then from there we try to choose the book and it is not easy. There are a lot of excellent, incredible books but we also have to have a discussion around distribution and availability of the titles. It is a cool process and a great deal of the credit goes to the Library for their role in the selections. Shout out to Friends of the Hennepin County Library, too, for sponsorship.

Above and below, Myron Medcalf with author Anthony Ray Hinton at a 2024 Mary Ann Key Book Club event at the Central Library.

Q:  Can you share a memorable moment or feedback from participants that highlight the book club’s influence? I attended the presentation last year with author Javier Zamora where he discussed his memoir, Solito. Several Mexican immigrants seated next to me cried throughout the talk, so I witnessed firsthand the impact the club has on community members. I’ve thought about that event many times.

A:  I would say the overall thing that stands out is when people tell me that they feel “seen” in ways that maybe they haven't felt seen before. Yes, the talk with Javier was really powerful conversation but I think Anthony Ray Hinton’s book – The Sun Does Shine - and the author talk we did around it was really impactful. We had a group of individuals who had been previously incarcerated in Minnesota on a panel talking about their experiences and just being highlighted and acknowledged and just being able to say your voices matter was important. I try to just assemble groups of people and say, “Your voice matters too.” Again, I don’t know if I achieved anything - that’s just the goal so those are my favorite moments when people feel like they matter. All we can do about anything is get in there and try to do something. I don’t ever want this to be about me in any way - I'm just a piece of the puzzle and quite insignificant in the greater pursuit of justice and equality. I believe it's the largest book club in Hennepin County Libraries history with over 4000 members – I’m so happy to tell you that fact. We select the book, gather the community and panelists and I try to shrink into the background.

Q:  What are your aspirations for the club? What's on the horizon?

A:  More books, more conversations, more connections and changed perspectives. My hope is that a participant might wake up tomorrow and then reconsider things that they had previously thought about folks who are not like them. I don't think there's another path to change. You can talk about all these action statements but I don’t think any of that is sustainable unless there is the consideration that my worldview isn't the only worldview. That is where you have to start and I think too often we go to action steps without that foundation and that's why things don't last.  I'm just trying to do it at the grassroots level - the real ground level - because I think that's where everything grows from. Our next book is The Stars and the Blackness Between Them by local author Junaudra Petrus, winner of  the 2020 Coretta Scott King Honor Book Award.  Expect some lively discussions around this book!

Q:  Ok, I’m shifting gears but you are the ESPN College Basketball analyst and reporter. Who will be in the men’s and women’s Final Four?

A:  I wouldn’t bet against Paige Beckers and UConn for women. For men, it’s hard to forecast, but Duke and Auburn look pretty good to me!

Artists at Work: The Mia Staff Art Show

Article by Becky Fillinger

Utopia: Access Denied, by Rocky Xóchihua, Facilities

The Minneapolis Institute of Art (Mia) Staff Art Show is happening now through April 13. It's a unique exhibition spotlighting the immense creative talent of Mia’s staff. Many employees are artists - from Security to Registration to Information Systems - nearly all departments are represented, showcasing over 60 art submissions.   

We talked to six of the employee artists about the inspiration for their submissions and also their thoughts about working for and being encouraged by Mia. The show runs through April 14, but don’t wait until the last minute. Make plans to visit Mia at 2400 3rd Avenue S to see how ‘fostering creativity’ is a guiding principle taken seriously by our local world class museum.

Pink Aqua Metro 13" x 19" (17 1/2" x 25 1/2" framed) Digital Painting (brushes and shapes only in Photoshop) by Daniel Henry, Security

Daniel HenryI am a designer and editor of all digital media. I love color, typography, sound, classic art, and minimalism. My compositions tend to reflect a dawn or twilight atmosphere with a tinge of mystery.

I am inspired by a combination of the older art that surrounds me at Mia, simple ideas that can hint at mystery, and daily conversations. I am new to the art world and relatively new to Mia. As a security guard, I spend a lot of time absorbing art. I'm always learning about different styles and genres; the Museum is the best resource for this information. Mia gives the staff a great platform with the Staff Art Show. I have worked at the museum for the past year and a half, and I'm delighted at how supportive the public and co-workers are of local art. Also, the frequency of rotation in the art collection helps the flow of ideas and inspiration. I've come to appreciate work that I might not have done before this job. “Everyone Welcome” applies to the entire Institute.

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Lake Superior, October 14, 2018 32 inches long and 14 inches tall - Watercolor by Jenny Rydeen, Visitor Experience

Jenny RydeenI am a watercolor artist who loves painting outdoors. I learned plein air oil painting from my grandma (Nana) before discovering watercolors from my art teacher in high school.  I most often paints lakes and interiors.

I am inspired by nature and love painting outdoors. I see beautiful works of art every day at my job at Mia. My new favorite inspiration is the painting A Norwegian River in Winter by Ludwig Skramstad, which is on view in the third-floor galleries! I am a plein air artist. I enjoy looking at landscapes and considering how the artist may have created them. Any artwork on paper is really interesting to me. I like making frequent visits to the print and drawing study room. It is open to the public with an advanced reservation. We have the best staff and volunteers. I love working at a museum where everyone is passionate about art and art-making processes. It is so special that Mia holds an all-staff art show where my friends and family can see my paintings. It is really special when staff and volunteers tell you that they saw (and liked) your artwork!

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Cabin Hideaway - Oil on Canvas by Joshua Angel, Information Systems - Painted along with Bob Ross - Cabin Hideaway (Season 13 Episode 11)

Joshua AngelI try to find peace in the process and really grasp the idea of having my own time to be present and free from distractions. I imagine what it would be like to stand in the wilderness and observe first-hand what I am trying to paint.

I have seen many beautiful paintings here that inspire me to try new things and techniques with my own art practices. I observe other artists' delicate strokes and details and want to see if I can achieve something close to that. I can find beauty and inspiration in all of Mia's collections. I appreciate all forms of art across various mediums and the process and time spent creating them. I am also really excited about a number of upcoming shows.

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Synesthesia Sliced in Sections (Would You Come Closer...) 12 1/2 X 15 1/2 inches - in frame - Ink on Paper by Rachel Raskin, Retail

Rachel Raskin

I’m inspired by a little of everything; lately, the biggest inspirations have come from observing the change and flow found within nature, my lived experiences with my various neurodivergencies, and listening to an excessive amount of music. I also think all the art I’ve had the privilege to experience in person impacts what I create and how I create. To certain eyes, the reflection of parts of Mia’s collection can be easy to spot in my artwork. I’ve been inspired by the pointillism reflected in the clouds from Georges Suerat’s Port-en-Bessin and the fine line work commonly found throughout our Asian art galleries, specifically in Liu Yuanqi’s Scholar in Landscape, Cai Jia’s Landscape with Scholar Viewing a Waterfall, and Baichi Dōjin’s Plum Drawn from the Mind. 

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Honeymooners 2 11x14 photos, framed together, so around 12 x 30 - Photo print by Anna Dilliard, Learning & Programming

Anna DilliardIn middle school I saved my money for a Nikon 35mm camera. Two decades later and I used that camera to take pictures of my wife on our Midwestern honeymoon. Little Anna would be thrilled.

My piece in the staff art show is a pair of photographs. I saved up for the camera when I was 12 years old and these are photos from my honeymoon two decades later. My biggest inspiration—in life, not only in art - is young Anna. Everything I do is to make her proud. She'd be thrilled by these photos and the love they exemplify. Oddly enough, I didn't always love looking at photographs in museums, but that's changed since picking up my camera again. Seemingly monotonous moments become time capsules.

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Jane, George, and Tiepolo 20"x16" unframed - Oil paint on panel by Bill Skodje, Curatorial Affairs

Bill Skodje

Beautiful works of art inspire me. Because I paint plein air watercolors, nature also inspires me. I’m not sure if my work can be affiliated with any art movement, but it reflects themes I find at the museum. I use as many influences as I can from Mia's broad collection, including works of art, to create still-life paintings.

It’s a privilege to have access to so many beautiful objects. Mia’s mission statement includes the idea of inspiring through art. Mia provides a wonderful resource for artists to come and be inspired, and it’s free every day!

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Mia's ever-growing collection of LGBTQ+ artists includes lesbians like Harmony Hammond and Mickalene Thomas. Both are groundbreaking and some of my favorite artists. Hammond's work can be goofy, which I love - showing queerness in art doesn't need to be serious all the time. Thomas often depicts hyper-feminine women covered in sequins and glitter; that's what I feel like on the inside. I love that Mia’s collection demonstrates that being queer can be peaceful and playful.

Milo Imagines the World at the Children’s Theatre Company - A Discussion with Director Mikael Burke

Article by Becky Fillinger, photos by Joe Mazza & Eleanor Kahn

First impressions aren’t always accurate. In Children’s Theatre Company's world premiere production of Milo Imagines the World, Milo takes the audience along with him on subway rides that expose him and us to different people, music, cultures and ways of thinking. We talked to director Mikael Burke about bringing the play alive from the printed page to the stage and lessons of empathy and understanding that apply to all ages. The play runs February 4 through March 9 - get tickets here.

Mikael Burke Q:  You’ve said, “When we come to the theatre to share in witnessing a story, we silently make a pact: for just a while, we all agree to believe what unfolds before our eyes. The imaginary becomes real because we believe it, and when that belief is rewarded, our experience is transcendent, our hearts and minds are changed.” Do you believe the audiences who attend Milo Imagines the World can or will be changed by the play’s messages?

A:  Absolutely. I believe audiences can expect to be moved by the story that unfolds. Milo's magical journey on an NYC subway train is a wild ride. It's full of great music, delightful surprises, and is just bursting with imagination. But it's also a moving story about love and family that is sure to tug the heartstrings. I cannot wait to see all the ways Milo's journey inspires audiences, and how they carry his story out of the theatre and beyond.

Q:  How does the play expand on the book’s themes of empathy and understanding?

A:  What the play does so well is deepen the explorations of empathy and understanding so expertly rendered in the picture book by giving us more time and space to actually experience the sights and discoveries Milo encounters. We get to experience the fun of imagining someone else’s life, and we also get to experience how it feels when someone makes a wrong assumption about us. And the relationship between Milo and his sister is greatly expanded in the play helping us to see Milo’s learning in real time thru his developing relationship with her as they go from siblings at odds to a family in harmony.

Q:  How do you convey Milo’s imaginative drawings in a theatrical setting? Are you collaborating with sound, set and costume designers to bring Milo’s world to life?

A:  We are bringing Milo’s drawings to life is exciting ways thru dynamic collaborations with sets, light, costumes and props. Every imagined world we visit is a little different, each with a unique musical style, but what ties them all together is Milo’s drawings, which leap off the page and become real elements that the cast interacts with in ways that are delightful and surprising. 

Q:  Were there specific moments from the book that you were particularly excited to bring to life on stage?

A:  The moments from the book that most excited me when I first began thinking about bringing this story to life are the moments when we dive into Milo’s imagination, and the possibilities for theatrical play that arise when the rules of the real world are off the table. And there’s a moment of imagination that comes late in the play that I think will be a particularly impactful and moving moment.

Q:  What message do you hope audiences, especially children, take away from the play?

A:  I think this story takes us on a journey of understanding, and teaches us that there’s always more to people than meets the eye. I hope that people walk away understanding that we shouldn’t judge a sketchbook by its cover, and that there’s always more to the story if take the time to really understand rather than pass judgement.

Q:  How do you react when you find out a person isn't the way you thought they would be?

A:  I love when someone surprises me. At this point in my life, more often than not, if I’m discovering someone to be unlike what I anticipated they would be, my first impulse is to reflect inward and check in with myself about why I needed to believe that that person might be a certain way in the first place. Then, I simply keep an open heart and a gracious mind as I learn who they really are and I aim to meet them where they’re at rather than feel any sort of way about the fact that they’re different from what I expected.

Q:  What has been the most rewarding part of directing this world premiere?

A:  The most rewarding part of directing this piece is definitely the opportunity to collaborate with so many incredible artists across disciplines, and creating a rehearsal room that is vibrant, curious, and built on mutual respect of each other as artists and people.

Q:  What’s next for you after this project?

A:  Following Milo, I go into rehearsals for the Chicago premiere of Brendan Pelsue’s thrilling new adaptation of Dickens’ A Tale of Two Cities, which opens in late April with Shattered Globe Theatre. Follow my news on my website.

Local Entrepreneur Superstar: Gary Berg

Article by Becky Fillinger, photo provided

Did you know we have a local booking agency that brings in over $10 million in annual sales? G.L. Berg Entertainment is celebrating 35 years of success this year - their services include representation of artists of all types for all sorts of events, from local to national! We talked to Gary about why he got involved in this business, the early years, memorable moments and the company’s ironclad and transparent recipe for success. 

Gary BergQ:  What inspired you to start your booking agency, and how has it evolved over time?   

A:  Throughout my life, I’ve had a deep passion for sports and entertainment, both as a participant and an observer. After earning my Master’s Degree in Higher Education, I spent nine years as a college administrator. While I enjoyed that work, I couldn’t shake the desire to create positive, memorable experiences for people through live events. I wanted to help communities and companies connect through high-quality entertainment.

That dream became a reality on July 1, 1989, when I founded G.L. Berg Entertainment from scratch. My mission was clear: to provide professional, non-offensive, high-quality, and affordable entertainment options for companies, fairs, festivals, theaters, schools, and other special events.

Back then, it was just me and a big vision, with gross sales of $30,000 in our first year. Today, I’m proud to say that G.L. Berg Entertainment has grown into a thriving agency with over $10 million in annual sales. Our team includes nine full-time staff members, one part-time employee, and two specialized sub-contractors. We represent more than 300 professional performers who bring joy to audiences across cruise ships, performing arts venues, fairs and festivals, corporate events, schools, and fundraisers.

It’s been an incredible journey, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to do what I love while making a positive impact on so many people.

Q:  What have been the biggest challenges in scaling from local to national operations?

A:  One of the biggest challenges we’ve faced over the years is that every type of event comes with its own unique set of considerations - venues, budgets, dates, locations, and more. On top of that, each market approaches buying entertainment differently, which requires tailored strategies and expertise.

As we’ve grown, we’ve learned that specialization is key. In 2022, we reached a pivotal point where we could establish several distinct divisions, each led by an expert in their respective markets. This structure allows us to better meet the specific needs of our clients and performers while streamlining operations.

Today, G.L. Berg Entertainment is proud to offer specialized divisions for:

• Corporate and Private Events
• Cruise Ship Performers
• Performing Arts Centers (PACs) and Theaters
• Fairs and Festivals
• Speakers (via our Elan Speaker Division)
• K-12 Schools, Colleges, and Universities

This shift has been transformative for our agency, enabling us to provide customized, high-quality service on both local and national levels while continuing to grow and innovate.

Q:  How do you market your business to attract new clients?

A:  Like many successful and growing businesses, we use a multifaceted approach to attract new clients. Our main marketing and sales strategies include:

• Dynamic Web Presence: We maintain a general website along with several market-specific sites to cater to the unique needs of our diverse clientele.
• Industry Engagement: We are active members of industry-specific organizations, which often involves attending tradeshows, networking events, and fostering relationships within those communities.   
• Targeted Campaigns: We employ highly targeted email and direct mail campaigns, ensuring our outreach resonates with the right audience.
• Client Outreach: Regular communication with current and past clients via phone and email helps us maintain strong relationships and uncover new opportunities.   
• Showcase Opportunities: Every time one of our acts performs, they effectively serve as a live showcase of their talent. These performances often generate leads and referrals from captivated audiences.
• Word-of-Mouth Recommendations: Satisfied clients become our greatest advocates, spreading the word and bringing in new business through their enthusiasm.
• Social Media Connections: Platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn allow us to connect directly with clients and share our success stories, upcoming events, and featured performers.
• Proactive Outreach: Sometimes, it’s as simple as picking up the phone and reaching out to potential clients we know would benefit from our services.

This combination of modern marketing strategies and traditional relationship-building has been instrumental in driving our growth and connecting us with new clients.                    

Q:  Please share some memorable moments in your business - I'm sure there are so many!

A: It’s incredibly tough to narrow it down because there have been countless positive and memorable moments over the past 35+ years. A few that stand out include:

• In year three I hired my first employee and moved to a bigger office and things were starting to take off.
• Created the acapella group Tonic Sol-fa while they were finishing up college and over the next 15 years got shows for them all over the United States, brokered a large sponsorship deal with Herbergers, brokered a deal to get their CD’s attached to hundreds of thousands of General Mills cereal boxes, and built them into a very successful and popular national group.
• Going to Nashville on several occasions as our exclusive acts (comic magician Tim Gabrielson and comic ventriloquist James Wedgwood) performed on variety shows on the Country Music Television network.
• Our acts have also had featured guest spots on The Tonight Show, David Letterman Show, The Today Show, Comedy Central, Last Comic Standing on NBC, America’s Got Talent, The Conan O’Brien Show, Live with Regis and Kelly, The Late Show with Steven Colbert, The Sing Off (where our exclusively represented group Home Free won the fourth season).
• Booking Keith Urban for a Minnesota fair early in his career for $7,500 and bringing him to the state for the first time. Similarly, we booked comedian Frank Caliendo for a company holiday party in St. Cloud for $1,000, and just a few years later, he performed for another client at $50,000 as his career skyrocketed.
• When you go from Zero to almost $100 million in sales over 35 years there are wonderful moments all along the way.  Each year we had a record sales year was/is celebrated in a big way.

Q:  What role does company culture play in G. L. Berg Entertainment's success? 

A:  Company culture is absolutely central to our success and has been a guiding principle since day one. Our mission has always been to only provide entertainment that works. This means every event must work for the client, the performer, and our company. Transparency is the cornerstone of our culture, which sets us apart in an industry where this isn’t always the norm. All contracts are signed by both the client and the performer or speaker, ensuring everyone is fully aware of terms, payments, and expectations. This level of openness fosters trust and eliminates misunderstandings, creating a win-win for everyone involved. If it doesn’t - for reasons like budget, audience composition, or logistical challenges - we don’t move forward with the booking. By prioritizing integrity and alignment with our mission, we’ve built an environment where clients, performers, and staff alike feel respected, valued, and confident in the work we do.

Q:  If you could go back and change one thing about your entrepreneurial journey, what would it be?

A:  Honestly, I have no regrets. Every experience, whether positive or challenging, has been an opportunity to learn and grow, ultimately shaping the success of our company today. That said, if I had to choose one thing, I’d say I might have explored securing capital earlier to accelerate our growth. Our company has always operated without loans or debt, which is a position I’m proud of—it has provided us with financial stability and peace of mind. However, this approach sometimes meant missing opportunities, like hiring additional staff or investing in marketing strategies, simply because the cash flow wasn’t available. While it delayed certain milestones, it also reinforced our resourcefulness and commitment to building a sustainable business. Looking back, the lessons learned from growing at our own pace have been invaluable, and I wouldn’t trade them for anything.

Q:  How may we follow your amazing story?  

A:  Our website (https://www.glberg.com/) is regularly updated with the latest news, and we’re active in the community, which means we occasionally appear in the media. However, our story is always evolving and somewhat behind the scenes. People tend to follow the careers and activities of the incredible performers we represent rather than us as a company - and we wouldn’t have it any other way! Watching their success is the ultimate testament to our work.

Local Startup Capption Enhances Visitor Experience at WAM and American Swedish Institute

Article by Becky Fillinger, photos provided

Weisman Art Museum (WAM) recently launched a new service to enhance visitors’ access to the artwork and information in the gallery, in ways that best suit their needs — whether they’re low/no vision, socially anxious, a non-native English-speaker, or simply prefer to reread and revisit information on their own. 

Susannah SchouweilerThe Twin Cities-based start-up Capption developed this marvelous web-based platform that transforms the museum going experience. We talked to Susannah Schouweiler, Director of Marketing and Communications at WAM and Capption co-founder Sherman Bausch to learn more about its deployment at WAM, how the innovative technology works and how we might make use of it during our next museum visit. 

Q:  What was the motivation to offer Capption services at WAM?

Schouweiler:  We're the campus art museum for the University of Minnesota, and we know our student, faculty, and staff populations speak many languages and come to the museum with a wide variety of abilities, needs and preferences. We're also a public museum for the Twin Cities, and community members who come through our doors for a visit are equally varied. This is about doing the work to make all in our community welcome at the Weisman. At a public institution like ours, accessibility is simply essential. It’s central to our mission to ensure everyone is able to engage with the art, information, and ideas that make a trip to the museum meaningful and fun. We’ve explored more piecemeal digital platforms in the past to offer accessible ways in to the art and information at WAM, but Capption is a real leap forward in this work. Thanks to this platform, we can put all of these offerings together in one place, and present them to visitors in a way that’s easy and intuitive to use. 

Q:  What if a WAM visitor doesn’t have a smartphone?

Schouweiler: We have smartphones at the front desk that visitors can borrow if their own device isn’t compatible with Capption. WAM’s loaner phones are loaded with the platform, ready to use, and freely available, if needed.

Q:  What has been the feedback so far?  How will visitor feedback be collected to improve the service over time?

Schouweiler: We’re definitely getting enthusiastic feedback from visitors, and early analytics show the multilingual translation is particularly welcome. We’re continuously gathering feedback from visitors through surveys and observational evaluation to improve and enhance our use of the platform in the galleries. The team at Capption has been amazing to work with - they’re as eager as we are to use what we learn from visitor feedback to refine and augment the technology as we learn more about what our audiences need, and how they’re using the service.

Let’s also hear from the Capption developer, Sherman Bausch:

Sherman BauschQ:  Why did you develop this marvelous product?

Bausch: Everyone at Capption loves galleries, museums, and other exhibitions. None of us are identifiably disabled, but all of us feel underserved by typical exhibit displays. Turns out we’re not alone - over 350 million people worldwide possess non-obvious sight, mobility, anxiety, and language impairments.

Art, science, and nature exhibits must make sense to be engaging. When there’s a visual, social, or linguistic barrier blocking access to an exhibit’s context, engagement drops and frustration builds. Capption eliminates those barriers.

Q:  Who is Capption designed for?

Bausch; Capption helps museums, galleries, and nature centers serve low-vision, aging, and non-native speaking visitors. With Capption, exhibitors deliver critical exhibit content and context directly to a visitor’s smartphone:

• Immediately
• In context
• In a hyperlegible font
• In any language
• Respecting individual settings
• Readable (or listenable) at any pace
• Recording a referenceable history

At least 1 in 6 visitors have a disability that makes exhibitions daunting. Capption helps previously-excluded visitors feel welcome by granting them autonomy, agency, and access they need to engage with dignity.

Additionally, we engineered Capption to amplify an exhibit’s impact. Capption is a quick, simple enhancement to a curator’s designed experience, not a distraction that competes with their exhibit for visitors’ attention.

We want exhibitors to provide accessibility services discreetly and with dignity. Capption helps people who need it and can be ignored by those who don’t.

Q:  How does the service accommodate languages with different scripts or structures, like Mandarin or Arabic?

Bausch: Fortunately, your phone does already support different scripts and language structures, but it’s up to developers to leverage them properly. Our apps and backend services enforce formatting with a level of fidelity and speed websites can’t match. Capption supports both machine and human translations in 120+ languages.

Q:  What challenges have you faced during the development of Capption and how have they been addressed?

Bausch: A ton of work goes into engineering such a simple experience. Our team had to overcome multiple unknowns to build Capption:

• Learn how institutions discuss and implement accessibility today
• Understand visitors’ unassisted exhibit experience
• Determine precisely where, when, how, and why Capption helps each audience
• Architect the fastest, lightest experience possible with modern tools (most of which are built for bloat)
• Figure out the best way for institutions to implement and promote Capption
• Engage with possible clients to support funding requests

Throughout development, discipline has been Capption’s watchword. That’s meant empathetic research, painstaking architecture, methodical engineering, unflinching testing, and a tempered pace that gives space to think and try things. Everyone on the Capption team is a 20+ year software veteran, and we unanimously agree that this is the most “correct” we’ve ever done development.

Q:  Where will we see Capption installed here in the Twin Cities? How may we follow your news?

Bausch: Right now, you can see Capption live at the Weisman Art Museum and American Swedish Institute. We’re in conversations with a multitude of other exhibitors throughout the region, and we hope to see Capption expand access everywhere!

You can sign up for updates at https://capption.com/news or follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook, or Instagram. For direct inquires, we’d love to hear from you at hello@capption.com.

Finest Dish: Breakfast Fried Rice with YUM YUM Sauce at NOLO’s Kitchen and Bar

Article by Becky Fillinger, photos provided

Breakfast Fried Rice with YUM YUM SauceNOLO’s Kitchen and Bar in the North Loop is consistently turning out what they call modern American comfort food. You can expect breakfast, lunch, dinner, brunch and happy hour to all be consistently tasty, made with the freshest ingredients, all while providing the elusive comfort factor. We noticed that one menu item received lots of glowing online recommendations – Breakfast Fried Rice with YUM YUM Sauce. We talked to co-owner Brett Johnson and Chef co-owner and Peter Hoff about the dish. Make plans to visit soon at 515 N Washington Avenue, order the dish and let us know what you think. 

Q:  Please tell us the history of the Breakfast Fried Rice (BFR). How do you balance traditional fried rice techniques with breakfast flavors?  

Peter:  We wanted to try something outside the box of the traditional breakfast options. Our BFR is made with jasmine rice, scrambled eggs, peas, sesame kale, bacon, homemade breakfast sausage and YUM YUM Sauce. The bacon and sausage help maintain the breakfast feel and flavors. The garnish with kale adds a different texture that really rounds out the dish. The BFR is hands down our top breakfast seller. 

Brett:  We have added BFR to the menu at The Hilltop in Edina because if its popularity. I was unsure if the reception to the dish would be the same as in the North Loop – because of slightly different demographics – but once diners realized how good the dish is – it speaks for itself and is very popular there as well.

I personally think that Chef Peter’s YUM YUM Sauce is the secret weapon in making the fried rice so unique and delicious. I think its popularity was definitely a little bit of a surprise to Chef Peter. 

Peter:  The dish is what led me to create Seven Bridges YUM YUM sauce. A little bit of the backstory: after decades as a chef, I got lucky enough to open a place of my own. And with the help of my partners in 2017 we created something special and opened NOLO's Kitchen and Bar. Although the YUM YUM sauce started out as a condiment on our Breakfast Fried Rice, I quickly noticed that our guests were putting it on everything. Some great ideas, others not so much. People were ordering excessive amounts of it on the side, buying quarts of it to take home and asking, “Why isn’t there something like this at the store?" I took their not-so-subtle hints as a call to action and here we are.

Q:  How did you decide on the balance of flavors in the sauce?

Brett:  I think it is the perfect blend of ginger, garlic and soy that gives it such a savory and appetizing flavor.

Q:  Was the YUM YUM Sauce originally intended to complement the BFR?

Peter:  Yes, originally intended for the breakfast fried rice but now you can find it complementing tacos, salads and entrees throughout the menu – at all times of the day!

Q:  Did the sauce evolve over time, or was it perfect from the start? 

Peter:  No tweaks needed!   

Q:  What’s the most surprising way you’ve seen that people use YUM YUM Sauce? 

Peter:  For me, I’ve seen lots of people, surprisingly, putting it on potatoes or chicken salads! Also smoked meats!

Q:  The YUM YUM Sauce story is so entrepreneurial and surprising – do you have any tips for aspiring food innovators? 

Peter:  Patience! Believe in yourself and the product. I also think networking with the right people can also help. We went all in pretty fast and we are already in not only larger grocery stores such as Kowalski’s, Von Hanson’s Meats but also some independent markets such as Brookies Fish Market in St. Louis Park. Don't be afraid to bet on yourself and put yourself out there. 

Q:  How may we follow your news? 

Peter:  Follow YUM YUM Sauce and me at @sevenbridgessauces on Instagram, and our website sevenbridgessauces.com. 

Brett:  Follow NOLO’s Kitchen on Facebook and Instagram @noloskitchen. Come on down and visit us in person and try the Breakfast Fried Rice with YUM YUM sauce!

A Discussion with Local Artist Alison Hiltner, Recipient of the 2024 International Sculpture Center Innovator Award

Article by Becky Fillinger, photos provided

We Have Merely Been Detected

Minneapolis sculptor Alison Hiltner describes herself as an archeologist of science fiction. For the past ten years, her work has had the underlying theme of connection—how we communicate, feel, exist in harmony, and what causes discord. She was recently bestowed with the 2024 International Sculpture Center’s Innovator Award. The Center noted that “through her work, Hiltner invites audiences into imaginary worlds to discover their own forms of comfort.” We talked to her about how she defines innovation, her creative process and what’s on the horizon for her.

Alison Hiltner  Photo Credit Trina Fernandez, Brian Matthew Hart

Q:  Congratulations on winning the 2024 International Sculpture Center (ISC) Innovator Award. Did you submit an individual sculpture, or was your overall body of work considered for the award?

A:  I submitted three work samples of different pieces and a link to my website, so I’d guess, in this instance, my larger body of work was taken under consideration.

Q:  How do you define innovation in the context of your art? 

A:  That is an excellent question and a very complex one. I can give my answer, but there are many more answers out there, especially since, in a very real way, the most effective art is all about pushing boundaries and innovating. For me, innovation means constantly striving to realize the images, instances, and experiences you want others to experience. Innovation is a way of sharing your dreams with others in a way they, too, can understand. 

Q:  Please describe your creative process and how you approach developing a sculpture.

A:  I love these questions; they make me think. I've been doing this for a long time, and it’s fascinating to realize how much of the process becomes second nature. However, it is important to reflect not only on what you are doing but also on everyone else around you so you don’t miss the essential questions other people are asking, the unique gifts they have, and how you can do that justice or translate this knowledge into an experience that tiptoes around the universal but feels profoundly personal. Aside from that, research and experimentation are my guiding light, plus the genuine joy of making the impossible possible; nothing is ever finished; it's always in process.

Q:  How do you think technology and new media are shaping the field of sculpture?

A:  Art, regardless of discipline or medium, reflects our culture. Technology can be utilized in its creation or a focus in the conceptual conversation. We live in a world where the norm is rapidly evolving technology. Whether adopting technological tools as part of your process or actively avoiding their influence, cultivating new ways of sharing experiences is constantly reshaping our world. This has happened since humans realized they could affect their reality using tools.

Above and below - photos from the 2024 installment of Part of Our Lives Once Removed

Q:  You’re a multimedia artist - how do you select the materials and techniques for your pieces?

A:  I want everything I include in a piece to have a story and a purpose. Still, it can be simple and concrete. I use material to bring someone into a setting, mindset, or experience. Sometimes, though, we are very simply drawn to certain things with no rhyme or reason; that is why repetition is so common in nature and human behavior. We repeat what feels right, at times so instinctual that the only truthful answer can be summed up by it literally feels like something I should use.

Q:  How do you see your work contributing to social change or community engagement? Can you share an example of how your art has sparked dialogue or impacted a community?

A:  Knowing if you are contributing or not is truly a unicorn I will always chase; in other words, it is hard to know - especially when most artists rarely get feedback from a community. IF we are very lucky, individuals will share their experiences, and that has happened to me a few times, primarily with children, to be honest, and I would not want it any other way. One of the best was a little boy telling me he wants to think like me when he grows up, and I can’t think of a better impact than that - passing on how you see the world to new generations.

Q:  What advice would you give other sculptors looking to push boundaries in their work?

A:  Remember that you are limitless. Barriers will always exist, but it is your job to push past them, to deny them, and to prove them wrong. And none of this is easy; it’s probably one of the hardest things you will ever do.

Q:  What’s next for you? Are there any upcoming projects or directions you’re excited about? How may we follow your news?

A:  I have some ideas cooking in my head, but they still need to finish baking. My subsequent work will continue my most recent body of work, Our Lives Once Removed. To sum up, I am actively pursuing conversations with plants. My next scheduled exhibition is in the fall of 2025 at The Practice Gallery in Philadelphia. And people can follow me @alisonhiltner on Instagram, or my website, www.alisonhiltner.com. 

Meet Roshan Ganu, the Latest Artist to be Featured in Mia’s Minnesota Artists Exhibition Program

Article by Becky Fillinger

Do you need a break from the holiday messaging and imagery? Here’s the answer: Roshan Ganu’s work, तराणी: The Night Blooming Jasmine, is now on display in Mia’s Minnesota Artists Exhibition Program, and runs through February 23, 2025. Her dreamy multi-media pieces transform the 2500 sf U.S. Bank Gallery into an "enchanting nighttime realm." We talked to Roshan about the meaning – to her – of the narratives in the show, her creative process and how you may be in touch to share your own reactions to the exhibition. 

Q:  Can you tell us about the symbolism and narratives in रातराणी: The Night Blooming Jasmine?

A:  The symbols in रातराणी are derived from my everyday life in Goa, but memorialized through my lens as a foreigner in Minneapolis. They are portrayed as a combination of memory and lived bodily experience, through video, ceramic work and paintings. रातराणी (pronounced Raat-raani) is a Marathi word for The Night Blooming Jasmine, which literally translates to Queen of the Night. For me, the night is liberation. It is the time when I come into my truest self, a poetic absurdity. This exhibition is an interpretation of this idea through cultural symbols of the Night, such as Narkasur, a demon who is burned in effigy the night before Diwali, the Bodgeshwar Fair, and the Night Blooming Jasmine. 

Q:  How was it to be selected to be part of the Minnesota Artists Exhibition Program (MAEP)?

A:  It was amazing! I am so happy to be a part of a legacy of artists who have shown their work in this gallery. Since I moved to Minneapolis 6 years ago, I have followed the MAEP program as a pivotal next step in a Minnesota artist’s career. Seizing this opportunity, I traveled back to ground zero, my hometown Goa, to create a portion of the work. The process has been illuminating, educational and empowering, and I look forward to experiencing it with the Mia audience. 

Q:  Please tell us about your creative process. Do you follow a structured routine or is your process more spontaneous?

A:  I think it is a mix of both. It is important for me to be disciplined and committed to the process. But at the same time, I am dreamy and slow. So, I factor in the dreamy and slowness into the schedule. I really enjoy spontaneity, but I feel like it is important to set myself up for spontaneity to be effective, so that it does not become meaningless. A large part of my process is creating an atmosphere for the process through intense research, throwing myself open to experiences, travel, making physical and mental space, buying equipment, sourcing tools, etc.

Above and below - Installation views of Roshan Ganu: रातराणी: The Night Blooming Jasmine at Mia, on display now through February 23, 2025. Photo Credit: Charles Walbridge, Minneapolis Institute of Art

Q:  How do your personal experiences or cultural background influence your work?

A:  In this regard, I am no different than any other artist. We feel a lot. There is a depth of feeling, experience and a desire to create meaning from what we see and feel. For me, personal experience and cultural background contributes to this Well of Wisdom. It is a place I go to fetch my nurturing water. I also have a responsibility towards this Well, to use it sustainably and let it rest when it is running dry. This is when I let go of Art and venture into the world as a mundane person, for as long as it takes to guide me back into the studio. 

Q:  What message or emotion do you hope viewers take away from रातराणी: The Night Blooming Jasmine?

A:  I invite viewers to explore the space by positioning themselves in different parts of the gallery. By looking into the mirrors, you can curate your own unique compositions of the elements in the show, deriving meaning that is unique to you. I invite everyone to slow down, contemplate the visuals and spend time with the labels to find their own connections with the stories. We all have a relationship with the Night, what is that relationship for you? What would you do if the Night was not off-limits?

Q:  How may we follow your career?

A:  I am most active on my Instagram page, where I post about my events, exhibitions and other updates. My handle is @blingalingthoughts. You can get in touch with me through an Insta message, I would love to hear from you, especially if the work left an impression. My website, http://www.roshanganu.com/, is where you can find some of my past work.

QUEERSPACE collective: Minnesota’s only 2SLGBTQIA+ Youth Center

Article by Becky Fillinger, photos provided

Team members Angelie Hu and Abby Neisen greeting attendees for QUEERSPACE's 2SLGBTQIA+ youth center grand opening.

A Discussion with Nicki Hangsleben, Executive Director

QUEERSPACE collective opened its doors in October and is the only 2SLGBTQIA+ youth center in the state.  We wanted to learn more about this fabulous and important space and organization - a discussion with Executive Director and Founder, Nicki Hangsleben, provided us with the essential and hopeful information.  Consider a gift to QUEERSPACE this holiday season – you’ll be supporting the youth, mentors and caregivers who provide a safe place for vulnerable youth in our community.

Q:  You worked for many years in the corporate world, at Land O Lakes. What inspired you to take a detour in your career and start QUEERSPACE collective?

Nicki HangslebenA: At Land O'Lakes I worked in International Development designing and implementing agricultural programs in developing countries. I traveled around the world and worked with amazing communities throughout East and Southern Africa, Asia and the Middle East. I loved my job and collaborated with amazing team members. After 9+ years I started to feel like I wanted to do something a little closer to home. As a Queer person who grew up with Queer community (my mom dated women when I was a kid), I knew having mentors was instrumental to feeling safe and supported when I came out. I saw the mental health crisis facing young people in the LGBTQIA+ community and found out there were very few mentorship programs supporting them. I thought this would be a great way to show up for our youth and our broader community.

Q:  What is QUEERSPACE collective's mission?

A:  QUEERSPACE collective creates space for LGBTQ+ youth to feel safe and empowered to be their true selves.

Q:  Can you share some success stories from your mentorship programs? How have these programs impacted the lives of LGBTQ+ youth?

A:  Over the last 3.5 years we've successfully matched 80+ LGBTQIA+ youth with LGBTQIA+ mentors, supported another 50+ youth through our youth workshops, and through partnerships connected with over 3,000 youth out in the community. We also provide mentor and caregiver training and LGBTQIA+ inclusivity training throughout the country.

I hear from caregivers often that QUEERSPACE has changed their lives and sometimes saved their lives. Many youth who are referred in are dealing with mental health challenges such as depression, anxiety and suicidal ideation. Having a caring adult and community allows them to feel more confident and secure in who they are. We've had some matches who have been together for 3 weeks and some who have been together for 3 years. In addition to supporting their 1:1 matches we also provide a lot of community events so youth and mentors can connect with other youth and mentors in the program. And we provide caregiver training so they can connect with each other as well. Our focus has been about creating community. And it's working!

A young person adds their ideas to a whiteboard that reads, "What do you hope to see at the QUEERSPACE Youth Center?"

Two young people painting their nails at QUEERSPACE's youth center.

Q:  How does QUEERSPACE collective engage with the broader community to foster inclusivity and support for LGBTQ+ youth?

A:  Partnerships are at the heart of everything we do. We are intentional about working with community partners and ensuring what we are providing is not redundant. We are part of the Minnesota School Outreach Coalition (MNSOC) and collaborate with other LGBTQIA+ youth organizations to host Q-Quest, Youth Pride and other fun and engaging events in the community. We're also part of the Minnesota Trans and Intersex Resource Network (MNTIRN), an organization working collectively to assist LGBTQIA+ folx arriving in Minnesota from other states. And, we're constantly evaluating ways we can share resources from other organizations with our growing QUEERSPACE community. I firmly believe, as Paul Wellstone once said, "We all do better when we all do better.”

Q:  Can you talk about any partnerships or collaborations that have been particularly beneficial for QUEERSPACE collective?

A:  Yes, partnerships are incredibly important to all we do. We know it takes our full community to best support our young people. We have programmatic partnerships with orgs like RECLAIM!, Family Tree Clinic, Transforming Families, and OutFrontMN, fundraising initiatives with FlipPhone drag brunches and Red Cow, and last year completed a training program for Best Buy’s Teen Tech Centers. Stay tuned for our newest partnership with Worthy Mentoring. Together we're working on a virtual mentorship app to support kids in rural communities.

Q:  What are your long-term goals for QUEERSPACE collective, and how do you plan to achieve them?

A:  We developed a 3-year strategy in the fall of 2023 and have prioritized growing our mentorship programs, opening a youth center, and developing a virtual mentorship platform. Our mentorship programs are continuing to expand, we recently opened an LGBTQIA+ Youth Center and are working on a virtual mentorship app that we plan to pilot in 2025. You can find out more about our 3-year strategy at our website, queerspacecollective.org/about.

Q:  What has been the most rewarding part of your journey with QUEERSPACE collective, and what keeps you motivated?

A:  I'm grateful I can leverage my skills acquired while working for large nonprofits like MPR and corporations like Land O'Lakes and apply them to this new startup organization that is directly impacting LGBTQIA+ youth. I'm also grateful for the amazing team at QUEERSPACE who show up every day for our mentors, our youth and their caregivers, and our partners with creative solutions and incredible programming. I'm lucky I get to lead this incredible organization and continue to show up for LGBTQIA+ youth in our community to help them feel a bit more supported in this often-challenging world.

Q:  What advice would you give to individuals and organizations looking to support LGBTQ+ youth in their communities?

A:  The LGBTQIA+ community is constantly being attacked, especially our Trans community. We are lucky to live in a state with representatives and advocates who have been working diligently for decades to protect our rights. Please make sure you vote. And vote for those who want equal rights for EVERYONE. Please also consider donating to local LGBTQIA+ organizations, including QUEERSPACE collective. There is so much more we can be doing to create more inclusive spaces for our LGBTQIA+ youth. Finally, educate yourself. Learn more about the experiences for trans youth, what it means to be non-binary, how to use they/them or ze/zir pronouns, how to share your own pronouns, and all the ways you can show LGBTQIA+ youth they deserve love and compassion. 

Nicollet xChange: A Winner for Downtown Minneapolis

The International Downtown Association (IDA) is the premier organization for urban place professionals who are shaping and activating dynamic city center districts. Their members are city builders and downtown champions who bring urban centers to life, bridging the gap between the public and private sectors. IDA recently awarded The Nicollet xChange with their Downtown Achievement Award of Excellence for its resourceful approaches related to the innovative summer program. We spoke to Lisa Middag, Senior Director of Economic Development for the Mpls Downtown Council and Downtown Improvement District about Nicollet xChange, the award, and what it means to Minneapolis.

Q:  Congratulations to Minneapolis and to you on winning this award! What is the Nicollet xChange and what was the original vision for the project? Please tell us about the history and mission of Nicollet xChange. 

A:  The Nicollet xChange is a weekly sustainable community marketplace launched in the summer of 2023 on Nicollet Mall in downtown Minneapolis. Its original vision was to create an engaging pedestrian experience that fosters a sense of community renewal and reinvention in downtown, replacing a legacy farmers market that had concluded earlier that year. This new initiative aimed to spark a deeper connection to downtown by blending sustainability-focused activities with the promotion of local businesses and experiences.

The marketplace features food trucks, fun pop-up activities, and opportunities to learn more about sustainability all around a centerpiece - the xChange - a one-for-one item exchange where participants could trade fashion, home, sports, art, or media items.

As the longest running weekly swap event in the country, the Nicollet xChange's mission was multifaceted, aiming to encourage sustainable practices by reducing waste, providing alternatives to fast fashion, and connecting participants to sustainability resources. The event also sought to draw a younger audience, promote a sharing economy, and cultivate a sense of shared experience by facilitating exchanges where people could share the stories behind their items. Each week, reuse artists demonstrated practical skills like mending and alterations, while the event highlighted downtown businesses and events.

The idea emerged from the desire to reconnect people with downtown through shared experiences, leading to the involvement of swap experts like Patrick Duffy (the Swap King) and Ashleyn Przedwiecki (Luum Collective), who helped bring the event to life. The initial 2023 run proved successful in building a community of exchange practice, attracting repeat participants, and generating positive public acceptance as a creative alternative to traditional retail. The Nicollet xChange returned to Nicollet Mall in summer of 2024. This past summer, more than 5,700 people experienced the xChange, and 450 people made exchanges that saved more than 2,000 items from entering the traditional waste stream.

Q:  So impressive! When did the city hear about the Downtown Achievement Award of Excellence? Did you attend an awards ceremony?

A:  We learned about the award earlier this year, but the awards presentation took place in Seattle at the IDA’s national conference in September, where staff had the opportunity to cross the stage and be acknowledged with other award winners from around the country.

Q:  Do you think the award contributes to the overall development goals of downtown?

A:  Nicollet xChange aligns closely with the overall development goals of downtown, particularly its sustainability and community engagement objectives. The Nicollet xChange directly supports efforts to reduce waste, promote reuse, and encourage sustainable consumption. The one-for-one exchange model helps divert items such as fashion, textiles, and household goods from the waste stream, supporting downtown’s environmental sustainability goals.

The marketplace also contributes to broader downtown development goals by fostering a sense of community and revitalizing the area through a shared, interactive experience. It encourages people to visit and engage with downtown Minneapolis, building social connections and promoting local businesses. Additionally, the weekly format creates a regular gathering space for people, adding vibrancy and a renewed sense of purpose to the urban environment.

Overall, the initiative serves as a dynamic example of how downtowns can take a leadership role in sustainability while simultaneously enhancing their appeal as vibrant, community-focused spaces.

Q:  What advice would you give other cities or planners looking to achieve a similar standard of community engagement and design excellence?

A:  Sometimes beautiful things can come from challenges…we were seeking an experience for downtown users that would answer the gap left by the departure of the farmer’s market. Knowing that the loss of workers created challenges for retail-based businesses, we were seeking something other than retail that could answer both that desire for a retail-type exchange but also help strengthen relationships amongst our downtown community. Supporting a shared economy experience really answered both those desires.

Q:  What role did partnerships play in the success of the project?

A:  Partnerships were critical to the development of xChange - first and foremost, we needed the sustainability expertise of our program partners, Patrick Duffy and Ashleyn Przedwiecki, who took the time to educate us on how swaps can work and their benefits and challenges (i.e. what happens to what’s left?). It was their trusted leadership within the local sustainability ecosystem that allowed us to tap into the participants, enthusiasts, educators, menders and designers, that helped add so much to the experience. Finally, for two years now, the xChange has been hosted by the Piedmont Property team at US Bancorp Center, and their support for the event, including the provision of free storage space in between the weekly xChanges, made it possible to efficiently deploy and resource the event.

Q:  How may we follow news of upcoming innovative and sustainable city projects?

A:  Follow us on Instagram and Facebook @mplsdid to stay updated on the latest events, initiatives, and community stories. Discover more about the mission and impactful work of the Mpls Downtown Improvement District by visiting our website at mplsdid.com. 

Meet Nambi Mwassa – Theater Latté Da’s Cinderella

Article by Becky Fillinger, photos provided

Minnesota Star Tribune called Nambi Mwassa an up-and-coming actor in the Twin Cities to keep our eye on – we agree! You saw her earlier this year in The Color Purple at Theater Latté Da – where you’ll now find her playing the title role in Cinderella. We talked to Nambi about stepping into the classic role this holiday season – her inspirations and favorite scenes. Cinderella runs until January 5 – get tickets here.

Nambi MwassaQ:  How do you think Cinderella's story resonates with modern audiences?

A:  I think that we can see many themes of this show in today’s society. For example: how rare kindness is. Many people believe that kindness is only deserved. This story makes us ask the question of “why is kindness so hard to give out?” Time and time again in this story, Cinderella gives that out (despite her not being in the highest class of society) and not expecting anything in return. That is just the way she is, and because of this, society views her as an outcast. Cinderella has chosen to be herself and not hop on the bandwagon of “following society’s rules” just because it looks “trendy/popular/reputable.” We can compare those themes to social media in today’s society. Judgement is so instilled into our society that people are afraid of truly being themselves, because they don’t want to be ridiculed, so they decide to wear a “mask.” 

Q:  Will you incorporate any modern elements into your portrayal of this classic character?

A:  Yes! Especially with the music. I come from a contemporary music background, so I didn’t want myself to be a “cookie cutter” version of this classic character. I wanted to add a piece of myself to this project. Our director, Justin Lucero, has also emphasized the modern feeling of the show throughout the rehearsal process. He has always been open to having those deeper conversations of the story/characters which I am always open to having as well. He gives us new perspectives or ideas to play with that resonate well with the theme of the show. Also, our wonderful music director, Wesley Frye, has been open to giving me some creative freedom when it comes to making/pitching some choices with the music. It’s going wonderful so far, and I hope it caters to the audiences.

Q:  What aspects of Cinderella’s personality do you relate to the most?

A:  Being opinionated. She also is very caring and loves helping others, which I have passion for as well. Outside of theatre, I work in special education schools as a teaching assistant. It’s a job I’ve done for a few years now. I chose this path because I grew up having a brother with a disability. My siblings and I assisted and watched my parents go through the responsibilities of having to take care of a disabled child, so I decided to apply myself to that area of work. It was work that I not only related with, but cared for. I understood the huge impact I had on the quality of life of the person I taught and cared for. It’s a rewarding trait that I am very proud of. Thats one of the pieces of kindness and care that I think of when portraying this role. 

Q:  What did you focus on to make Cinderella’s kindness and strength shine through in her interactions?

A:  Her innocence and humility. I think that’s also a huge piece as to why she is so kind. She is closed off from the world because she is seen as an outcast. Even by her own family. When she finally comes out of that shell, we see the way that she reacts to the world and most of the time, they react in a negative way towards her throughout many parts of the story. Despite that, she gives everyone the benefit of the doubt and doesn’t react with being mean back, but rather lets people see her way of viewing life from her perspective, which shows her humility. Also, I think Cinderella doesn’t know how to be mean to others and to the naked eye, it can come off as naive, but I think it truly comes from her innocence since she’s been forced to be hidden from the world. Her kindness has just been instilled in her and that’s where she teaches us that love comes naturally and hate is taught.

Rehearsal

Q:  What is it like working with the set design and costumes to enhance your portrayal of the character?

A:  The set design is minimalistic, but there are a lot of moving parts in the show that we all (the cast) contribute to in an effort to bring this story to life. The costume design team has worked so hard on being a big part of that as there are multiple transformations/quick changes that I have to do, on stage and off stage. It definitely took quite a bit of time and patience to make all of them look effortless, but I think it is paying off so far. 

Q:  Do you draw inspiration from any previous portrayals of Cinderella in film or theater? If yes, which ones?

A:  I would probably say Celie from The Color Purple film and musical. It’s ironic because it was the last show that I did at Theater Latté Da. Although Cinderella and Celie come from completely different worlds and walks of life, they are characters that are dismissed and ignored by the world around them. Including the people who are supposed to love them. They both work time and time again to prove to the world that they are worthy of living in it. Eventually they both end up living the life that they’ve dreamed of in the end.

Q:  What is your favorite scene or line as Cinderella, and why?

A:  I would say the scene where Ella connects with her stepsister, Gabrielle. I think in most versions of Cinderella we’ve always seen the stepsisters treat Cinderella very poorly, but in this version, we see Gabrielle be more empathetic towards Cinderella, and eventually a big supporter of her. It’s a nice change from the typical story we’re used to. It also just adds more context to the family dynamics. 

Q:  Is there a moment in the show that you find particularly magical?

A:  The magical transformation into the ballgown (done by the fairy godmother). It’s a big moment for the character as it is the first time we witness a piece of Ella’s growing confidence. For me, it’s a moment where I feel that I can breathe and let go of a bit of the baggage that the character is constantly forced to carry on her shoulders. 

Q:  What’s next on the horizon for you? We’ll be watching!

A:  I have some upcoming auditions for a few local shows for next year, so hopefully those turn out in my favor! I also just recently received my equity card, so I am just trying to audition wherever/whenever I can at the moment. I feel that the world is my oyster at this time of my life, so I only see myself going up from here!

Get to Know David Beach, Portrayer of Ebenezer Scrooge in the Guthrie's 50th Production of A Christmas Carol

Article by Becky Fillinger, photos provided

This year the Guthrie Theater celebrates their 50th anniversary of producing A Christmas Carol. 

David BeachArtistic Director Joseph Haj recently commented that A Christmas Carol is not just gratuitous holiday fluff.  Per Haj, “A Christmas Carol is everything we talk about when we talk about the theater. This is the work that’s meaningful to people. This is a work that changes people. A Christmas Carol is about the hardest work any of us will do, which is to actually change ourselves.”

The character we watch change over the course of the play is, of course, Ebenezer Scrooge. David Beach, in his Guthrie debut, takes on the iconic role. We talked to him about his inspirations for playing Scrooge, and what he learned about Scrooge and himself after delving into the role. Don’t wait to the last minute to book your tickets to this classic holiday event – playing now through Sunday, December 29 on the Wurtele Thrust Stage. Get tickets here.

Q:  Congratulations on being cast as Ebenezer Scrooge in the Guthrie Theater’s production of A Christmas Carol. How do you approach portraying such an iconic character like Ebenezer Scrooge?

A:  I am beyond thrilled and honored to take on this role at the Guthrie, especially for the 50th production of this beloved story, at this renowned theater. The Guthrie is an institution where I dreamed of working, and Scrooge is a role I have always wanted to play.

The opportunity to play Scrooge is a bit daunting. At my core, I am an actor who is driven by the power of collaboration, so my fundamental goal is to commit to finding how I uniquely meld into this extraordinary cast assembled by director Addie Gorlin-Han. How do I uniquely fit into the extraordinary community of artists and artisans at the Guthrie? How do we all share this work with the community?

On stage as Scrooge

When approaching a role like Ebenezer Scrooge, my first thought is to find where I live within his narrative; What moments in my past do I wish to relive? When have I let people down? I relate not only to Ebenezer’s profound sense of regret, but also his heartfelt, almost giddy joy at getting a chance for a do-over. This is where the underlying power of the piece lies for me, hope. There is nothing more powerful to experience right now than envisioning hope for a better future.

Q:  Have you been inspired from any previous portrayals of Scrooge in films or theater? Will you add any personal touches to the role? How will you make the character your own?

A:  One of my favorite film performances is Alastair Sim’s portrayal of Ebenezer Scrooge in the 1951 version of A Christmas Carol. I have watched it a dozen times. I’m always astonished by how flawless he is in the role. What makes his performance even more moving is how he was primarily celebrated for his comedic strengths but gives one of the most pragmatic and honest performances I have ever experienced on film. As someone who gets cast in comedic roles, I am struck by the intrinsic honesty of a “clown” and how comedy and tragedy live a razor-width apart. My own portrayal of Scrooge is informed by how moving, honest, and humorous Sim’s portrayal was, much still filtered through my own lived experiences and impulses.

Q:  What was the most surprising thing you learned about Scrooge while preparing for this role?

A:  How profoundly moving Scrooge’s journey is. For the play to work he needs to experience the depths of darkness. Addie Gorlin-Han’s brilliant directing encourages us to not only embrace the darkness that is a ghost story, but also celebrate the cathartic transformation of Scrooge and the light that emerges at the end of the play.

Q:  Are there aspects of Scrooge's personality or journey that resonate with you personally?

A:  I wish I could say that I have nothing in common with the character, but the brilliance of Dickens’ work is that we all can relate to Scrooge (Lavina Jadhwani’s adaption is masterful in its honesty and faithfulness to the text.) I have been startled during rehearsal with how much I resonate with the character. I turned 60 this year, and that kind of milestone has allowed me to have what I would call a “Janus moment” — looking at my future in a way that is informed by my past. It is remarkable I have been given this opportunity at this point in my life.

Q:  What do you hope Guthrie audiences take away from your portrayal of Scrooge?

A:  When I see theater, I want to be able to feel I sat in the dark with a bunch of people who I didn’t know, experienced something that will never happen in the exact same way again, and we all emerged somehow different from that shared experienced. That is my biggest wish for this production…and that people know my mutton chops are real!

Meet the Mill City Farmers Market Vendors – Morning Glory Farm and Gardens

Aricle by Becky Fillinger

Ready to greet customers at the Mill City Farmers Market   Photo provided by Faye

A Discussion with Faye Jones, co-owner

Morning Glory Farm and Gardens has decades of dedicated organic farming and land stewardship practices. Nestled in the northernmost tip of the driftless region of western Wisconsin, in Spring Valley, the farm includes woodlands, pastures, gardens, campsites, and small-scale livestock. We talked to co-owner Faye Jones about her background in organic farming, one of her most popular products - ramp salt, and when you will see her next at the Mill City Farmers Market.

Q:  I read that you’ve been farming for 38 years. How did you get into organic farming? 

A:  It’s actually longer than 38 years. I started farming over 45 years ago – vegetables and flowers and sold them at the St. Paul Farmers Market. This was in pre-internet days and no formal programs on organic farming were available. I worked on organic farms for 4 - 5 years to learn as much as I could. I was very much influenced by Diet for a Small Planet by Frances Moore Lappé. The book was published in 1971 and it helped me and many others looking at a different approach to food production.

Q:  You were Executive Director of Midwest Organic & Sustainable Education Service (MOSES), now renamed as Marbleseed, for many years. It is a nonprofit organization that promotes organic and sustainable agriculture by providing the education, resources and expertise farmers need to succeed. Do you continue to mentor or serve the organization? What have you seen as changes in your years with midwestern organic farming? 

A:  I attend the annual conferences but no longer serve in an official capacity. There have been so many changes since I began farming. There was no "local food" when I started farming. We also see great consumer awareness and the government also coming around to support agriculture – and not just large corn and soybean farmers. Enthusiastic twenty-year-olds are becoming organic farmers!

Faye assists a customer purchase ramps at the Mill City Farmers Market  Photo: Mill City Times

Q:  Let’s now focus on your ramp products. Please tell us about your ramp crops and ramp salt.

A:  In early May our woods are filled with abundant ramps – native to North America. My husband, Mark Plunkett, and I own a 20-acre patch of woodlands with good soil that is conducive to growing ramps. They grow slowly. I clip the top third of the ramp plant and the plant will regrow – it’s perfectly sustainable. We sell fresh ramps in early spring at the MCFM. I started to think of ways to sell a ramp product beyond the very limited fresh plant timeframe.

Photo provided by FayeI started drying ramps as another product to sell and one thing led to another and I started selling ramp salt and it has grown into quite a business. There are all sorts of salts – garlic salt, rosemary salt, etc. – I only make ramp salt. Ramps are only in season for two or three weeks at the most in the early Spring (April 20 – May 15) and ramp salt is best with early season leaf. I dry the leaves on a low setting in the dehydrator and lightly crush the leaves after drying. I vacuum pack the dried leaves and store in the freezer.  I make my salt blend in the week leading up to market day. I am a proud cottage food producer. 

Q:  How do you recommend that we use ramp salt?

A:  Ramps have a delicate oniony, leeky flavor that’s soft and tender. Ramp salt can be used on vegetables, soups, eggs, popcorn, steaks, burgers, other meats and proteins. It is delicious on anything!

Above and below photos provided by Faye.

Q:  When will we see you again at the MCFM? 

A:  I’ll be there at both winter markets in November and December. Ramp salt makes an excellent holiday gift!

Q:  How may we follow your news?

A:  People can sign up for my newsletter at the booth but also contact me at mgfarmwi@gmail.com – I’ll add you to our email list. My website is fayesramps.com. I’m toying with Instagram, so stay posted! 

Jill A. Anderson Brings a Wealth of Experience to the Role of Managing Director at Children’s Theatre Company

Article by Becky Fillinger, photo provided

Children’s Theatre Company (CTC) has a new Managing Director, Jill A. Anderson. We are so lucky in Minneapolis to live near the nation’s largest theater for young people. What makes it so special – the world premieres, the outstanding casts, the witty approach that keeps parents and children engaged? Yes, but the management behind the shows is also exemplary. We talked to Ms. Anderson about her prior theater management roles, her collaborative management style and keeping the theater solvent and running most efficiently.

Jill AndersonQ:  Congratulations on your appointment as Managing Director of the Children’s Theatre Company. You’re originally from the Midwest, growing up in Marshfield, WI. What are your thoughts about returning after stellar career positions in Syracuse, NY, Washington, DC and Waterford, CT?

A:  Thank you so much! It’s truly an honor to step into this role at such a prestigious institution. Coming back to the Midwest feels both exciting and full-circle for me. Growing up in Marshfield, I developed a deep appreciation for community and the power of arts education to shape young minds. After my time in Syracuse, Washington, and Waterford, where I had the opportunity to work with incredible teams and engage with diverse communities, I’ve gained new perspectives on leadership, innovation, and collaboration. These experiences will inform how I approach my work here, but at the heart of it all, returning to a community like Minneapolis - where arts and culture are so vital - feels like coming home. I’m thrilled to bring everything I’ve learned into this new chapter.

Q:  You previously won the Interfaith Works’ Racial Justice Award. Will you have an opportunity to incorporate and promote themes of racial justice in your new role? If yes, how might it happen?

A:  Absolutely. Racial justice is something I am deeply committed to, both personally and professionally. I believe that art has a unique power to challenge perceptions, ignite conversations, and inspire change. At CTC, we have an opportunity to engage young people in these important discussions in ways that are age-appropriate and impactful. Rick Dildine (Artistic Director) and I will continue working with the CTC team to ensure that our productions are inclusive and reflect the diverse communities we serve. Additionally, I see a role for the theater in promoting racial justice not just through storytelling, but also in how we engage with staff, artists, and the broader community. It’s about fostering an environment where a multiplicity of voices is heard, valued, and reflected.

Q:  Many aspects of the financial management of a theater are the responsibility of the Managing Director. What are your initial thoughts about the budget, financial operations, and fundraising strategies at CTC?

A:  Financial sustainability is key to the long-term success of any arts organization, and I’m excited to dive into the budget and financial operations here at CTC. It’s clear that this institution has a strong foundation, but there are always opportunities to grow and innovate in how we approach fundraising and financial management. My initial thoughts are to take a close look at current revenue streams - such as ticket sales, grants, and donations - and identify areas where we can expand or diversify. I’m also committed to strengthening relationships with current donors and forging new partnerships with corporate sponsors, foundations, and individual philanthropists. Ultimately, my goal is to create a model where we not only ensure the financial health of the company but also invest in accessibility so that all children have the opportunity to experience the transformative power of theater.

Q:  You both have a lot of responsibilities at CTC, but how do you see yourself collaborating with Rick Dildine, the Artistic Director of CTC?

A:  Rick and I will be a team in every sense of the word. While my focus will be on the operational side - financial management, fundraising, and strategic planning - Rick’s expertise in the artistic vision and programming will be invaluable in shaping our collective goals. I see our collaboration as a partnership where we each bring our strengths to the table. We’ll work closely together to ensure that our productions reflect our shared commitment to creating impactful, inclusive work for children and families. I’m excited about the opportunity to support Rick’s artistic vision while ensuring that the logistical and financial frameworks are in place to make those visions a reality. Collaboration between us, the staff, and the community will be key to creating a dynamic and sustainable future for CTC.

Q:  We wish you many years of success. How may we follow your news?

A:  The best way to follow news and updates from CTC is through our social media channels (Facebook, Instagram and YouTube) and the CTC website. We share all kinds of behind-the-scenes insights, upcoming events, and announcements across those platforms. I’m always happy to engage in conversations about the exciting things happening at the theater and in the broader arts community. Keep an eye on CTC’s platforms, and I look forward to keeping everyone updated on our work and plans!

Local Chef Spotlight - Christina Nguyen of Hai Hai

Article by Becky Fillinger, photos provided

Chef Nguyen                                                                               Photo Credit Matt Lien

Christina Nguyen won a James Beard Foundation Award this summer for Best Chef Midwest. We wanted to learn what the award meant to her, and some dishes not to overlook at Hai Hai. If you haven’t visited her restaurant at 2121 University Avenue NE, make a reservation today to experience her bold, complex Southeast Asian dishes cooked from the heart. She is also the chef behind Hola Arepa, with many press accolades.

Photo Credit Matt Lien

Q:  I’ve read that you’re a self-taught chef – congratulations on excelling at it! What were some of the biggest challenges you faced while teaching yourself to cook? How did you overcome these challenges?

A:  I guess that I would say that it's a lot of trial and error and years of practice. Obviously, it is sort of defeating when you try to make something and it doesn’t turn out as you envisioned, but I never considered cooking as too laborious or too stressful. I have a lot of perseverance; I learn from my mistakes.

Q:  Congratulations on winning the award for Best Chef Midwest from the James Beard Foundation this year. What does winning this award mean to you?  

A: Oh gosh, it means, it means a lot in so many different ways. It is a testament to my whole team’s consistent and excellent work – we make food that is delicious and you do it over and over again every day.  With every single dish, that is always an opportunity to fail or mess something up. I know that everyone tries really hard. I try hard. We all do to make sure we’re making great quality food in a fast-paced setting. 

And also on a personal level, it's really an honor because I know that there are so many people who are better chefs than me who are more deserving. My path started from not knowing how to cook to 13 years later having this honor - I have worked a lot of hours and it definitely didn't happen overnight so I feel personally that it is recognition for the effort and results from learning and creating delicious foods. I was helped by many people – my husband, Birk, and so many others.

Thirdly, in a cultural way, I think it means a lot for immigrant food - for Southeast Asian food to be recognized on the same level as more European or Western food, because I think that a lot of the times when you think of these sorts of awards, you think of a more high-end or, I don't know, French or Italian - that kind of food, and not so much Asian or Southeast Asian food.

People have always loved Southeast Asian food, but I think it always seemed that Southeast Asian food was considered cheap - it's "cheap eats" or it's "a hole in the wall" type of experience. It means a lot to have that recognition for immigrant food in general because it is a labor of love and it is difficult and labor-intensive food to make. So, to have that recognition and to know you don’t just have to be making handmade pastas and souffles and steaks and things like that in order to get this recognition - it means a lot.

Hanoi Sticky Rice

Water Fern Cake

Balinese Chicken Thigh

Q:  How would you describe your culinary philosophy?

A:  I would say that my culinary philosophy is creating delicious food from the heart, with bold flavors. I like to make auntie food, street food and food that female entrepreneurs make all around the world. My food has big bold flavors, with fresh ingredients and herbs – it excites the palate with complex flavors and contrasts.  Vietnamese food and my food have contrasts between hot and cold, savory and sweet, bright and umami.  

Q: Do you foresee expanding your restaurants beyond the Twin Cities?

A:  Ooh, beyond the Twin Cities. I wouldn’t rule it out. I'm not actively searching for that now. I have my hands full, but I wouldn't rule it out.

Q:  Or perhaps selling your products in grocery stores? I sampled your Balinese Chicken and Hanoi Sticky Rice appetizers – both delicious - at this summer’s recent hospitality events surrounding the U.S. Olympics Gymnastics Trials. I could definitely envision those as frozen food items available in grocery stores.

A:  That definitely that would be exciting. Honestly, I know that kind of thing takes a lot to get into grocery stores and getting placement. If I partnered with the right person to make that happen, I feel like that would be awesome and totally a dream come true. I certainly wouldn't mind being able to get more of these flavors out to more people.

Q:  What is one menu item we should not overlook when we visit Hai Hai?

A:  There's definitely more than one menu item we shouldn't overlook! No, I'm kidding, but I would say it's really hard to narrow down. Of course you mentioned the Balinese Chicken and Hanoi Sticky Rice, which are a couple of our best sellers that are both unique and fantastic. I would also throw in our Water Fern Cakes, which are really close to my heart and taste very quintessentially Vietnamese. I love them, and they’re something you can't get in many places.

Q:  Are there any new projects or concepts you're working on that you can share with us at this time?

A:  Nothing that I can 100% share yet! There are definitely some exciting things in the works, fun partnerships and events. I can't wait until I can actually talk about them. So, you'll just have to keep following me and looking at my Instagram to find those things out.

Q:  All right, we will! And that leads into how can we best stay current with your news?

A:  The best is our Instagram accounts: @haihaimpls, and for Hola Arepa @holaarepa. My personal Instagram is @christinanguyenmpls. Please follow us. Please come visit us, too.

Hai Hai feast                                                                        Photo Credit Tyson Crockett